Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Knadijah Hickman. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Knadijah, thanks for joining us today. Alright, let’s jump into one of the most exciting parts of starting a new venture – how did you get your first client who was not a friend or family?
When I first started building my social media management business, I was doing what many new entrepreneurs do working with people in my network and trying to gain experience wherever I could. At the time, I was helping a family friend with their social media. She happened to be a model signed with Select Model Management, and through helping her build her online presence. Around that same time, I was thinking about moving to Los Angeles. I figured the best way to break into the social media space professionally would be to work with a modeling agency, so I applied for a social media manager internship at Select Model Management. I hoped it would be my way into the industry. I never heard back about the internship. But something unexpected happened. The recruiter who reviewed my resume and portfolio reached out to me directly. Instead of offering me the internship, she told me she was interested in working with me on her own personal brand. That recruiter was Lisa Phillips. Lisa was a model scout and a former model who had worked with Ford Models earlier in her career. When we first connected, she was creating a mentorship program designed to help aspiring models understand the industry and learn how to get signed. She needed help building her presence online and marketing the course. I helped her develop the content and strategy to promote the program through social media, and within the first month we generated over $1,400 in course sales. For me, that moment meant everything. It was the first time someone outside of my personal circle trusted my work and paid me my full rate and the results proved that my strategies worked. As time went on, Lisa’s career began to evolve. She stepped away from the modeling mentorship space and began using her platform for something deeply personal. As her message shifted, I helped her reposition her online presence to reflect that new mission.
What started as helping her sell a mentorship program turned into helping someone reshape their platform around advocacy and purpose. Working with Lisa changed how I viewed my business. Like many entrepreneurs in the early stages, I struggled with imposter syndrome and questioned whether people would really pay the rates I wanted to charge. But Lisa believed in my work and invested in my services at my value. That experience pushed me to stop undercharging and start treating my business like the real company it was becoming. It also gave me something every new entrepreneur needs, social proof. The work we did together became part of my portfolio and helped open doors to future clients. Looking back, not getting that internship was actually one of the best things that could have happened to me. Instead of building someone else’s brand behind the scenes, that missed opportunity led me to my first real client and the moment my business truly began.
Knadijah, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
My name is Knadijah, and I’m the founder of Tailored Social, a social media management agency built for overwhelmed business owners and content creators who know they need to show up online, but don’t have the time, strategy, or clarity to do it effectively. I didn’t start this business with a perfect plan but I started by simply helping people. Today, Tailored Socials offers a range of services including social media management, content strategy, content creation, and behind-the-scenes production. I work closely with clients to not only grow their platforms, but to help them understand how to use social media as a tool to build their brand, attract their audience, and ultimately increase their revenue.
The problem I solve is simple, but very real: a lot of business owners are great at what they do, but struggle to show up online in a way that reflects their value. They either don’t have the time, don’t know what to post, or feel overwhelmed trying to keep up with trends. That’s where I come in. I don’t believe in one-size-fits-all strategies. Everything I create is tailored hence the name Tailored Socials. I take the time to understand each client’s voice, goals, and audience, and then build content that feels authentic to them while still being strategic and results-driven. I also pride myself on being hands-on. I’m not just behind a screen scheduling posts ’m often on-site with my clients, capturing content, directing shoots, and helping bring their vision to life in real time. That level of involvement allows me to create content that actually converts, not just content that looks good.
What I’m most proud of is building this business from the ground up and watching it grow into something that not only supports me, but supports other businesses. Seeing my clients gain confidence, attract opportunities, and grow their brands because of the work we’ve done together is what keeps me going. The main thing I want people to know about me and my brand is that I genuinely care about the people I work with. I’m not just here to post for you I’m here to partner with you, to help you grow, and to make sure your brand is seen, understood, and valued online. Tailored Socials isn’t just about social media it’s about helping people show up fully in their business and be recognized for what they bring to the table.
Can you talk to us about how you funded your business?
One of the most surprising parts of my journey is how I funded my business. I didn’t start Tailored Socials with investors, outside funding, or a large savings account. I started it while working as a semi-truck driver. And every time I share that, people are shocked, but it’s the truth. My 9–5 wasn’t something I was trying to escape it was the very thing that made my business possible. I used my trucking income to fund everything, my equipment, my software, my travel, and the time it took to build my skills and grow my client base. Every dollar I earned from my job became an investment into my future.
There’s a narrative online that tells people to quit their jobs and go all-in on their business as quickly as possible. But for me, that wasn’t realistic and more importantly, it wasn’t strategic. My job gave me stability. It gave me the freedom to build without pressure, to be selective with clients, and to charge based on value instead of urgency. I wasn’t forced to take on work that didn’t align, I was able to build Tailored Socials with intention. I always say this, and I truly live by it: you are your first investor.
Before anyone else supports your vision, you have to be willing to invest in yourself, your time, your energy, and your resources. For me, that looked like long days and even longer nights working on the road and then coming home to pour into my business. Over time, that consistency paid off. I built a steady client base, increased my pricing, and created a foundation strong enough to support me full-time. When I finally transitioned out of my 9–5, it wasn’t a leap of faith it was a calculated move backed by proof.
That experience shaped how I approach business today. I don’t believe in rushing the process, I believe in building something sustainable. I’m proud that Tailored Socials was built from the ground up with discipline, patience, and self-investment. Every milestone, every client, and every win is rooted in the decision I made early on to bet on myself. And that’s the message I want people to take away: you don’t need outside validation to start, you need commitment. Because the way you build it will determine how long it lasts.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
One of the biggest lessons I had to unlearn as a business owner was the idea that being “easy to work with” meant saying yes to everything. In the beginning, I thought being a good service provider meant being available all the time, accommodating every request, and going above and beyond without clear boundaries. I wanted my clients to be happy, so I avoided setting firm expectations upfront. But over time, I realized that approach was actually hurting both me and my business. Without structure, things started to feel chaotic. Clients would reach out at all hours, expectations weren’t always clear, and projects could easily expand beyond what was originally agreed upon. Because I work closely and directly with my clients, often hands-on and in-person, it became even more important to have clear systems in place. Without them, my business started to feel less like a professional service and more like a constant back-and-forth. It felt, honestly, like a circus at times.
That experience forced me to shift my mindset. I had to unlearn the belief that boundaries push clients away and replace it with the understanding that boundaries actually create better client relationships. Now, I lead with clarity. I set expectations upfront, communication hours, deliverables, timelines, and what is and isn’t included in my services. I’ve built systems and processes that protect both my time and my clients’ experience. And the result? Everything runs smoother. My clients respect my process, projects are more organized, and I’m able to deliver better results without feeling overwhelmed or burnt out.
That lesson changed the way I operate my business. I’ve learned that professionalism isn’t about overextending yourself, it’s about creating structure. When you stand firm in your business, you don’t lose clients you attract the right ones. And for me, that made all the difference.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ktsocials.com
- Instagram: @Tailoredsocials_
- Linkedin: Knadijah Hickman
